Ford is back in the compact pickup truck game.
Revealed this morning, the 2022 Ford Maverick sits below the Ranger and F-150 pickup trucks in the USA.
It’s not a body-on-frame off-roader, it’s a unibody built on the same bones as the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport, aimed at city slickers who want a ute that doesn’t drive like a truck.
And no, it won’t be coming to Australia just yet.
“We have no news to share about any plans to introduce Maverick to Australia,” a Ford Australia spokesperson told CarExpert.
“When it comes to the local pick up segment, we’re proud that our expanding Ranger line-up continues to attract new customers – whether using their vehicle for work, play or a combination of both.”
Measuring up at 5072mm long on a 3076mm wheelbase, 1844mm wide, and 1745mm tall, the Maverick is 374mm shorter and 133mm narrower than a Ranger.
Hybrid power will be standard in the USA, although there’s a petrol-only option.
The entry-level Maverick packs a 2.5-litre petrol engine packing 120kW of power and 210Nm of torque, mated with an electric motor making 94kW and 235Nm. Combined, the Maverick hybrid has 143kW of power and an undisclosed peak torque output.
It’s front-wheel drive only, and puts its power to the road through a CVT.
Braked towing capacity for the hybrid is 907kg, and claimed fuel economy is 5.9L/100km on the EPA test cycle. Regardless of the engine you choose and which options boxes you tick, payload for the Maverick is 680kg.
Also offered is a non-hybrid 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine making 186kW of power and 373Nm of torque. It’s front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and can tow up to 1814kg with the rights options boxes ticked.
It’s offered with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. Off-roaders will also be able to option an FX4 package for all-terrain tyres and suspension, extra underbody protection, and off-road drive modes with hill descent control.
Standard braked towing capacity is the same as the hybrid, at 907kg.
Like the bigger F-150 and F-150 Lightning, the Maverick has had plenty of love lavished on its tray. Ford says it will sell owners a range of storage options, but there is also support for DIY truckers who want to use standard 2×4 wood and a can-do attitude to build their own.
Along with 12V power, there’s two 110V/400W power outlets back there, and an array of tie-down points in both the bed and tailgate.
Speaking of which, the tailgate will hold 227kg – equivalent to around 1.5 members of the CarExpert editorial team, and perfect for tailgating or sinking a few beers at a campsite.
Inside, the Maverick is clearly related to the Ford Escape, but it’s clearly the relative who lives on a farm and hunts for sport.
An 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen sits atop the dashboard running Sync 3 software with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
Storage spaces abound. There’s space under the rear bench, an abundance of cubbies and cutouts in the dashboard, and an abundance of hooks and tie-downs in the back.
Three trim levels will be offered: XL, XLT, and Lariat. Pricing starts at the equivalent of AU$26,000 in the USA.
In the USA, the Maverick will go head-to-head with the Hyundai Santa Cruz.
Like the Maverick, the Hyundai is based on passenger car bones – although the entry-level model will tow 1590kg, and the range-topper will haul up to 2270kg.
Maverick 
Santa Cruz
